Love Finds a Home (Anthologies) Read Online Free PDF Page A

hysterical young woman on the floor.
     
    David dropped to his knees beside Glenna, then scooped up the deck of cards. “The cards in themselves are not bad,” he said softly. “It’s the way they’re often used which causes folks to sin.”
     
    Glenna hiccupped loudly as she looked up at him, her dark eyes brimming with tears. “Those cards are the reason my daddy jumped from this train.”
     
    David stuffed the cards into his jacket pocket and gave Glenna his hand. Once she was on her feet, he offered her a drink from the canteen he’d taken out from under his bench. When she calmed down some, he helped her into her own seat and sat down beside her.
     
    She sniffed deeply as he handed her the handkerchief he’d pulled from another one of his pockets. “Thank you. You’re very kind.”
     
    He smiled in response. “You know, Glenna, the deck of cards can have a double meaning.”
     
    “It c–can?”
     
    He nodded and pulled the cards back out of his pocket. “I’ve been thinking about using cards such as these for one of my upcoming sermons. It might help some who are more familiar with worldly ways to better understand the Bible.”
     
    Glenna’s interest was obviously piqued, for she tipped her head slightly to study the cards.
     
    David fanned the deck and retrieved the ace. “This stands for one and reminds me of one God, who loves us all.” When she made no response, he continued. “Now the two makes me think about the fact that the Bible is divided into two parts—the Old and New Testament.” David withdrew the three of hearts. “When I see the three, I’m reminded of the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
     
    “And the four?” Glenna asked, touching a fingertip to the four of clubs.
     
    “Four stands for the four evangelists—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.” He held up the five of spades next. “Five makes me think of the five wise virgins who trimmed the lamp.”
     
    Glenna’s forehead wrinkled. She obviously knew little or nothing about the Bible.
     
    “The six of hearts is a reminder that God created the world in six days,” David said. “On the seventh day, God rested.” He tapped the seven of diamonds with his thumb.
     
    “And the eight? What does it stand for?” she asked, leaning closer to David. In fact, she was so close that he could smell the faint aroma of her rosewater cologne.
     
    David drew back slightly, afraid he would lose track of his thoughts if he didn’t put a safe distance between them. “Eight represents the eight righteous persons God saved during the great flood. There was Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives.”
     
    Glenna nodded. “Mrs. Olsen, a woman who ran the boardinghouse where Daddy and I once stayed, often told Bible stories. I wasn’t that interested then, but I do remember her telling about Mr. Noah and the big boat.”
     
    David chuckled. “Guess that’s about right, though I’ve never heard it put quite that way before.” He tapped the nine of spades with one finger. “This one makes me think of lepers. There were ten of them, and when Jesus healed them all, only one of the ten bothered to even thank Him. The other nine neglected to do so.”
     
    Glenna frowned. “Jesus healed men with leprosy?”
     
    “Yes, and He made many others well, too.”
     
    “What does the ten stand for?”
     
    “The ten represents the Ten Commandments, which were God’s law. He gave the laws to the children of Israel through His servant Moses.” David picked up the king of hearts. “This one reminds me of one special King … the One who died for each of us so we could have the gift of salvation and forgiveness from our sins.”
     
    Glenna chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip but said nothing.
     
    “The queen,” David continued, “makes me think of the virgin, Mary, who bore our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
     
    “There’s one card left,” Glenna said, pointing to the jack of diamonds. “What does that